Results 1,381-1,400 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is where the complexity is. I am positive about the fact that something is going to be done shortly.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Brabazon for the question. I am very aware of the capacity issues that exist in our prisons, and challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. The current programme for Government commits to increasing the capacity of our prisons by an additional 1,500 spaces, and the Irish Prison Service has already begun work to achieve this. Since January 2022,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is mandatory training for trainees in Templemore, as I outlined in my answer. Second, I have instructed officials in my Department to prepare the heads of Bill amending the Domestic Violence Act to ensure that, with respect to persons convicted of serious offences on indictment, the detail will be published in court judgments. This will entail a decision by the judges hearing the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The programme for Government commitment is that we will recruit 5,000 gardaí during the five-year term of the Government. I am not too worried about whether we get to 1,000 each year and if they are evenly spread over the five years. The priority is to get to 5,000. We need to increase the numbers within the force. On the retention crisis, the number of resignations from An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the intakes this year, there will be four. There was one in June, there will be another in August and there will be another before the end of the year. There will be approximately four intakes this year. Some years, there can be five but it is dependent upon each year and how the schedule operates. On the proposal to increase the training allowance, that is something I will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Connolly for her question. As she knows, the Women's Aid report was published last week. I had the privilege and responsibility of launching it. The statistics within it are very concerning. There were 32,144 contacts made with Women's Aid services last year. That was a 12% increase on the previous year. I was also aware of the statistic contained within it that 44% of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: This is a societal problem. However, my own assessment of it is that there is a growing recognition of the extent of this problem and there is a greater sense of confidence and capacity on the part of women to no longer tolerate this and therefore, to report it. 9 o’clock There is a debate as to whether the increased numbers are due to an increase in violence against women or...

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I too welcome the group from the Rathmines University of the Third Age. Coincidentally, they are from my constituency. I was here yesterday and the Terenure men’s club and the Ringsend active retirement group, also from my constituency, were in. I do not know what is going on here.

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Every time I come in here, there seems to be a local constituency group, so I thank the Cathaoirleach for that. I stand here to ask the Seanad to approve these motions to opt in to these three proposals in the field of international and temporary protection. As the Cathaoirleach knows, Ireland is committed to supporting and advancing the development of a common European system of asylum...

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Article 4.

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I listened to the Senators very carefully and I thank them for their contributions. I will try to respond to the points they raised but if I miss a point, I apologise. Senator Gallagher asked a couple of succinct questions. He asked how many people have sought international protection in Ireland to date this year. The answer is 6,000 in the first six months of the year. It was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Carthy for his question. As every Member of the House knows, a visible Garda presence is really essential to ensuring the public feel a sense of safety. It is also essential from the Government's perspective and from the objective within the programme for Government to build safe and secure communities for the public to enjoy. In February, there was the first Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that it is proposed to use the Old Cork Prison site, as previously announced as part of a larger proposal to accelerate the delivery of six prison capital projects. Using an exemption from the initial approval stages of the infrastructure guidelines is expected to reduce delivery times by 12 to 18 months. This is part of the overall plan to increase prison capacity by 1,595. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced. The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practises across the EU. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives. This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 61 together. I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons, and challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. The current Programme for Government commits to increasing the capacity of our prisons by 1,500 spaces. The Irish Prison Service have already begun work to achieve this. Since January 2022, capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister, it is my priority to ensure that the courts are adequately resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. This past year marks the first full calendar year of supporting a significantly enlarged judiciary and court operations in the wake of the 2023 publication of the report of the Judicial Planning Working Group (JPWG) and the appointment of 24 additional judges....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for me. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and the Dublin 13 area is no exception to this. While the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Misuse of Drugs (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am fully committed to helping to significantly reduce the harms caused to families and communities by illicit drug use. While my colleague the Minister for Health leads on policy on drug addiction and recovery, I do recognise that these areas are complex and there is a clear interface between the work of An Garda Síochána and the health and social services in this area.A person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In Ireland, the right to freely and peacefully assemble and associate, and correspondingly, to freely express one’s convictions and opinions, is guaranteed under the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. These are core tenets of any open, liberal democracy, and this Government is committed to their protection. ...